Cover for show-cases or the like.



PATENTED MAY 16, 1905.

0. JAEGER. COVER FOR SHOW GASES OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED- SEPT. 26, 1904.

2 SEEETS-SHEET L PATENTED MAY 16, 1905.

0. JAEGER. COVER FOR SHOW GASES OR THE LIKE.

" APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented May 16, 1905.

P TENT OFFICE.

OTTO JAEGER, or PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

COVER FOR SHOW-CASES OR THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 790,134, dated May 16, 1905.

Application filed September 26, 1904- Serial No. 225,894:-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTO J AEGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Covers for Show-Cases or the Like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in covers for show-cases and'the like, and has for its object to provide means of utilizing one sheet of glass for the showcase cover and securing and hinging said glass without the necessity of perforating the same for rivets and the like; and a further object of my invention is to provide an improved means for counterbalancing theweight of the cover and to ring a bell each time the cover is raised.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a show-case fitted with my improved cover, the view being taken from the rear; Fig. 2, a cross-section through a show-case fitted with my improved fover, the cover being shown raised in dotted mes.

A represents one sheet of glass designed to be used as the cover.

B represents two extensions extending rearwardly from the show-case. The extensions on the lower side and at the forward end are hinged to the show-case, as shown at C, and the forward end of said extensions near their upper side are slotted, and in these slots fits the rear edge of the glass A, which extends rear ward of the show-case a sufficient distance for this purpose. The two extensions B are connected together abovethe glass A by means of the strip D. Said strip D hasformed with it a strip E, extending from the center of the strip forward to the forward edge of the glass A. This strip E at the forward end is provided with branch arms E, extending-outward each side of the strip E, and theforward end of these branch arms are bent around and underneath the front edge of the glass A, as shown at E and in this way the glass cover A is held securely in the frame. A lug F projects forward from the strip E, by means of which the lid or cover A may be-raised.

G is a weight, in the'form of a cylinder, which is suspended from the outer end of the extensions B by means of the chains H. This weight is so regulated that it is not suificient to raise the cover A of its own accord; but it so nearly balances the cover that very little effort is needed to raise the same, and by hinging the extensions B in the manner shown when the cover reaches the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 the weight, extensions, and cover are so near in line that the weight holds the cover raised until it is desired to lower the same, when a slight pull forward will cause thecover'to overloalance the weight and the cover will fall to its place; but the weight so nearly balances the cover thatthe cover will not fall with any great speed and will not be broken. If desired, cushions could be arranged along the upper edge of the case to further protect the glass cover.

It is sometimes desirable to have a bell which will automatically ring each time the cover of a show-case is raised, so as to notify the Storekeeper if he should be in another part of the store and any one should raise the cover in his absence. This can be accomplished in any suitable manner desired. The means I have shown in the drawings consists of a lever I, pivoted to the back of the case, said lever provided with a hammer 1 upon one end adapted to rest upon the bell J. The other end of the lever I lies within the path of travel of a pawl K, pivoted to the weight G. The forward end of said pawl K cannot be raised, but may be depressed, aspring L holding the pawl in its normal position. Thus when the weight G is lowered by the raising of the lid. the pawl K will strike the lever I, raise the hammer I, and after the pawl passes the lever the hammer I will fall and sound an alarm upon the bell J, and when the weight is raised by the closing of the lid the forward end of the pawl K will be simply depressed by the lever I until it has passed said lever, the spring L returning said pawl to its normal position.

Of courseIdo not wish to be limited to the exact construction here shown, as slight modifications could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claimas new and useful is 1. In combination with a show-case, a cover consisting of one pane of glass, a frame for holding said glass, the rearwardportion of the frame slotted to receive the rear end of the glass, said frame extending down the center of the glass and above the upper surface of the same, the forward end of the frame being bent downward in front and underneath the forward edge of the glass so as to hold the glass without riveting through the glass, extensions extending outward from the rearward portion of the frame, the forward end of said extensions being hinged to the case, a weight suspended by chains from the outer end of said extensions, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with a show-case, a cover therefor consisting of one pane of glass, extensions hinged at their forward lower corners to the rear of the case, said extensions provided with slots cut in from their forward ends near the top thereof, the rearward edge of the glass cover fitting within said slots, a

weight suspended by chains from the outer end of the extensions, a strip connecting the two extensions together above the rearward end of the glass, a strip extending from the center of the first-named strip to the forward edge of the glass, branch arms extending from the forward end of said strip, the forward end of said branch arms being bent downward and underneath the forward edge of the glass, and means for sounding an alarm each time the cover is raised, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In combination with a show-case, a glass cover consisting of one pane of glass, a frame for holding said glass without being riveted thereto, said frame embracing the rearward edge of the glass and extending forward and embracing the forward edge of the same, said frame being hinged to the rear of the case, extensions extending rearwardly from the rear portion of the frame, a weight suspended by flexible connections from the outer end of said extensions, a bell secured to the rear of the case, a lever pivoted intermediate of its two ends to the case, a hammer formed upon one end of the lever adapted to drop by gravity against the bell, a pawl pivoted to the weight and adapted to strike the lever when the weight is lowered, said pawl being so pivoted that the same may be depressed but not raised, and a spring for returning the pawl to its normal position, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OTTO JAEGER. Witnesses:

AUGUST J AEGER, DANIEL MOONEY. 

